Cradle reciprocating apparatus



Feb. 27, 1962 E; w. FINGER 3,022,520

CRADLE RECIPROCATING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 1,6 31 n I m a lid /67 24 7 g, .r 7/ 66 1 2 1 h 3+ 2 r" 28 44 a jVgINVENTOR.

E. W. FINGER CRADLE RECIPROCATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May25, 1959 M m D N" 54225 u/Fwafie BY United States Patent 3,022,520CRADLE RECIPROCATING APPARATUS Earle W. Finger, 1837 S. th Ave.,Maywood, 11]. Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,537 6 Claims. (Cl. 5-109)The present invention relates to infants cradles, cribs or similarfurniture articles and concerns itself with attachable or accessoryapparatus for imparting rocking motion thereto for the purpose ofquieting restless infants and lulling them into sleep.

Authorities in child and infant training methods believe thatpacification, to be least disturbing and yet effective, should consistin slow measured bouncing motion in preference to swaying, rocking orrolling motions. Additionally, conventional cradle and crib structuresinclude sideward constraining guards with support slides, andcustomarily do not provide enough space to permit the mattress andbedding components to be displaced sidewardly within the surroundingstructure to afford ample motion to them to the extent needed for givingthe necessary effect. For these and other reasons it is now proposed todisclose an attachable device that can be installed by the makers ofsuch furniture or even by the purchaser thereof without special tools orneed of skill. Such accessory, moreover is designed to generate arhythmic vertical bounce or motion for imparting to the mattress andsupport spring thereof the precise characteristics to induce sleep andcalm restlessness without disturbing digestion or having otherundesirable side effects.

Thus, a primary object of the invention is to provide a motiongenerating apparatus which lends itself to attachment to a wide varietyof commercial crib and cradle structures without needing significantskill, special tools or appreciable time.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus whichwill produce a placating or soothing motion constrained to vertical orbouncing effects and hence adaptable for installation upon establishedcommercial designs of infants beds and cribs where sidewise spaceclearance is inadequate for other directions of motion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cradle activatingapparatus which may be prepared as a merchandising package of gift-sizeproportions for sale to householders who already possess the infantsfurniture item solely or as part of a nursery ensemble and who desire toadapt such to power agitation.

Briefly, the invention comprises an attachable apparatus for infantscribs or cradles for imparting vertical reciprocal motion to themattress and its supporting frame. To this end, it includes means forspringably supporting, from the head and foot boards of a conventionalcradle frame, the head and foot ends of a mattress support frame. Afirst beam element which includes endwise disposed and longitudinallyadjustable embracing clamps is adapted for attachment transversely tothe mattress supporting frame at a suitable position intermediate theends of the frame. A second beam element also including endwise disposedclamping means is adapted to be secured to the longitudinal rails of aninfants crib beneath the position of said first beam element. Finally, amotorized power train is mounted upon said second beam element and whichincludes a vertical connecting rod that receives reciprocal motion andimparts such motion to the first beam as well as to the mattress and itssupport frame.

For a better understanding of the features and purposes of thisinvention reference will now be had to the detailed descriptionfollowing hereinafter as well as to the illustrations of theaccompanying drawings, in both of which,

like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a miniature perspective view of a representative commercialbaby crib structure onto which may be applied a reciprocating apparatusin accordance with the r present invention,

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1,taken along line 22 thereof with certain features of the attachmentapparatus applied,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG.2,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 2, onan enlarged scale but with the power unit shown in section and theattachment hardware more fully detailed,

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view like FIG. 4 but featuring a variantform of reciprocal motion translating mechanism,

FIG. 6 is another detail sectional view like FIG. 4 but featuring afurther variant form of motion translating mechanism,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3but featuring a modified form of mattress and spring suspension,

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2featuring the construction of one of the resilient spring suspensionunits which supports each corner of the mattress and its spring frame,and

FIG. 9 is a view which resembles generally FIG. 8 but illustrates avariant form of mounting the mattress frame to one of said springsuspension units.

In the accompanying drawings the reference 11 designates generally ahead board which is opposed by a similarly proportioned foot board 12,which with the slidably adjustable side barriers 13 and 14 together formenclosures surrounding the mattress 15 and the space above the latterfor accommodating the infant occupant of a crib or cradle furniturearticle. Conventionally, the slidable barriers 13 and 14 are constrainedby means of guide rods 16 of which one is fastened to each of the cornerposts 17 that constitute part of the head and foot boards, so that eachbarrier may be disposed in an elevated or in a depressed position. Alsosecured to the corner posts, but at relatively lower elevations are aset of multiple apertured securement escutcheons 18, of which theapertures 19 are preferably keyhole shaped and among the set of them,arranged at corresponding levels.

Alternatively, these escutcheons may be provided with some form ofsupport projections instead of the apertures, as shown in copendingapplication Ser. No. 657,- 686, filed Aug. 1, 1957, and now abandoned,it being understood that such forms are conventionally provided for thepurpose of securably receiving the ends of transverse rails or of earformations that extend from the mattress support frame. In the presentteaching these escutcheons are utilized for supporting a pair of anglebrackets 21, in accordance with the preferred form of construction, asshown best in FIG. 8, or for supporting the hanger brackets 22, FIG. 7,as contemplated in the modified form. In each of these cases theattachment bracket is provided with a headed projection 23 which isadapted to enter through the keyhole enlargement and he slid down to thereduced width portion of any hole 19 at which the mattress level isdesired to be established.

In the case of angle brackets 21, which may be joined together as at 24,to form a combined type of unit at each end of the crib, the horizontalportion of the brackets 21 is provided with a hole through which extendsa central bolt 25. This member passes through the coil spring 26longitudinally as well as through both cylindrical shell guards 27 and28. FIG. 8 shows one manner in which an angle bar 29, or any other typeof structural form of which the mattress frame may be made, is securedto the top cylindrical shell 28. For this purpose, a pair of sidewardlyextending ears 31, integral with shell 28, are provided with holesthrough which bolts 32, that pass through the frameforms 2 9, may bealigned and therewith made fast. In FIG. 9 is shown how, by in'eajns ofthe clamp brackets 33 which embrace the end sections ofa mattress frame29, the assembly may be supported from the bottom shell 27. In thisteaching, the top shell 28 is advantageously provided with suitablemeans, such as the cars 34, for holding the bar sections 35 of brackets36. As with the brackets 21 of the alternative device, headedprojections 23 are used for fastening the brackets 36 to the cornerposts 17.

It will be notedthat in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8, theshell covered springs 26 are disposed beneath the mattress 15, while inthe form shown in FIG. 9 they are disposed above this member. .In bothinstances the action imparted by the motion translating mechanismeffects compression of the springs 26, either during the upstroke orduring the downstroke. It is. also noteworthy that the installation ofthe spring and guard shell assemblies 2628, both asregardstheir'attachment of the posts 17 as well as to the mattress frame29, is capable of being effected with ordinary household hand tools, andthat such installations, once made produce a secure and rugged devicewhich is safe against all conditions that may be contemplated. V Anotherform of spring suspension for the mattress assembly is featured in FIG.7, where the end sections of the mattress frame 29 are encompassed by apair of bracket components 38 and 39, each one of which includes a webreceiving extremity adapted to the horizontal as well as the verticalwebs of the angle metal of which the frame is made. The two components38 and 39 are then clamped together by means of an eyebolt 41, whichthereby functions to grip the mattress frame between them securely andin addition the eye of the bolt functions 'as a free pivotal connectionwith the lower loop of a related spring coil 42. Thus suspended fromfour stretchment springs at its corners, the mattress assembly isbuoyantly responive to vertical reciprocal stimulation as will now bedescribed. I 7

Intermediate the ends of the frame 29, and preferably at its masscenter, there may be applied a transversely extending beam element 44,which may be an angle member or a channel, FIGS. 3 and 4. In order. tofacilitate this installation for householders who acquire the presentapparatus for posterior'application, the beam element 44 Whether made ofangle or channel shaped stock, is provided at both its ends with one ormore elongated holes 45, through which may be passed suitably fittingthreaded bolts 46 for securing to such beam ends the hooked clamping orembracing members 47. The latter are shaped to receive within theirhooked extremities 48 a composite of standard or conventional bar ortubular stock material from which the mattress frames 29 are made. Aflattened U-shaped configuration such as shown in Fig. 4, is found toafford this universal feature. A longer side section of the embracingmember 47, designated 51 is also provided with one or more elongatedholes 52, registerable with the holes 45 of the beam elements 44, butbecause of the hole elongations, affording thereby a mode of adjustingthe hooked extremities longitudinally for the purpose of clampinglygripping the mattress frame therebetween.

To one of the upstanding webs 53, of beam element 44 is pivotallyarticulated as at 54 the free end of a connecting rod 55, whose otherend is pivoted to'an arm 56 carried by the crank disc 57, preferably bymeans of an adjustably positionable stud bolt 58. A series of threadedholes in the face of disc 57 each located at a different radius from itscenter of rotation may alternatively accommodate bolt 58 and in this waythe stroke of rod 4 55 is varied for the purpose of modifying theamplitude of the crib agitating motion.

This motion is originated by an electric motor 61, which drives a trainof gears or transmission system symbolically represented by the wormand'pinion set 62 in FIG. 4. The motor and its transmission 61 -62 areadvantageously combined into a unitary form, such. as by inclusionwithin a common housing 63 or support casting. In this manner may beachieved not only compactness and facility of installation, but also theimportant object of safety because of the more protective consequenceswhich flow from being able to shield moving mechanical parts fromcurious fingers, than is possible when even limited exposure ofmechanism is permitted.

I The common housing 63 may include a mounting base 64, provided withholes to'accommodate bolts 65 whereby the housing is made fast to atransverse beam element 66, generally similar to beam 44 describedabove, and correspondingly provided with like means 67 and bolts 68 foreffecting length adjustment and securing snug clamping engagement withthe side rails 71 of the bed. Thus, it is to be noted that both thespring suspension means by which the mattress is yieldably floated, aswell as the motion imparting mechanism involving the mattress and bedrails 29 and 71 are adapted to power mechanization by simple and facileadjustments that even unskilled persons may be able to perform with butminor instructions or guidance.

In FIG. 5 is illustrated another form of power translating mechanismwhich comprises in addition to the motor driven disc 57 and its carriedstud pin or bolt 58, a journaled pitman 73 which has intermediate itsopposite arms a box cam or loop 74 which receives the pin 58. As thedisc rotates, the pin 58 riding within the described loop 74 imparts toand fro motion to the pitman 73, which again may be adjusted foramplitude by relocating the pin 58 in other ones of a series of holes indisc 57. By journaling the arms of the .pitman 73 within opposedbearings of the housing 63, the pitman may be restricted to safeparallel motion.

Another form of power unit construction is taught in FIG. 6, Where thereduced speed driven disc 57 correspondingly is provided with anadjustable stud pin 58. In this case, however, the pin functions as acam lifter acting upon the third class lever 76 in a cyclic or periodicmanner with a brief rest interval between strokes but having nonethelessthe safety features of enclosing all parts that incur impingement duringtheir function. Lever 76 is pivoted at 77 and its free end is pivotallyconnected to a connecting rod 78 which is guided through an aperture 79in the enclosure body.

Operation With a mattress and frame assembly suspended on a set ofsprings 42 or 26 as above described, motion transmitted in a verticaldirection thereto produces a soft cushioned bounce which is constrainedto the lateral definition of its bounding components. This preventsinterference with the side barriers as Well as safeguarding againstinjuring the occupant in the event that he extends his hands beyond theborders of the mattress area. It is to be noted that both of the generaltypes of suspension springs are designed so that they are compatiblewith horizontal level adjustment as conventionally provided in manycommercial embodiments of infants beds and cribs.

The agitating or motion imparting mechanisms featured in the disclosuresof- FIGS. 4 to 6 are so designed that their installation may be had withan ordinary screwdriver and pair of pliers or'wrench. The length ofstroke and hence amplitude of vibratory motion is a factor that may becontrolled by adjusting the crank disc pin 58 in respect to its locationin one of the disc holes. Any discrepancies in the height variationsbetween the mattress frame level and the bed rail 71 levels can becompensated for by making any of the connecting rods 55, 73 or 78 of twosections with length adjustment of suitable kind between them.

While the invention has been explained and described with certainstructural embodiments of disclosure, it will be understood,nevertheless, that certain departures therefrom are susceptible of beingmade within the spirit or scope of this contemplation. It is notintended, therefore to be limited by the particular language of theforegoing specification nor by the illustrations of the accompanyingdrawings except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachable apparatus for imparting vertical reciprocal motion tothe mattress and its supporting frame of an infants cradle whichcomprises: means for springably suspending the head and foot ends of amattress supporting frame for vertical movement and for restraining thesame against lateral movement, a first beam element including endwisedisposed longitudinally adjustable embracing clamps for attaching saidbeam transversely to said mattress supporting frame intermediate theends of said frame, a second beam element including endwise disposedlongitudinally adjustable embracing clamps for attaching said secondelement transversely to the longitudinal rails of an infants cradlebeneath said first element, and a motor driven power train mounted uponsaid second beam element including a vertical reciprocal motiontransmission rod connecting said train with said first beam element forbouncing said mattress and its supporting frame.

2. A conversion kit for making a stationary infants crib or cradle intoa motorized bouncing implement for lulling disturbed infants intoquietude which comprises: a series of spring means each for sustainingone corner of a cradle mattress and its support under verticalresiliency, each of said spring means comprising a pair of hollowmembers each closed at one end and disposed in mutually invertedrelation with one of the members telescoping over the other of same,each of said spring means further having a coil spring within theassociated hollow members which bias the closed end of one of the hollowmembers away from the adjacent end of the other of same, a bracketassociated with each of said spring means for securing it to the head orfoot board of a crib at predetermined levels, a power driven unitincluding a motor, speed reduction transmission and vertical motiontranslation device for converting the rotary high speed output of saidmotor into slower rhythmic vertical reciprocal undulations, means forclampingly attaching said power driven unit to a stationary portion ofthe cribs structure, and additional means for attaching said verticalmotion translating device to said cradle mattress and its support.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said additional meansis comprised of a beam element adapted to extend transversely across thewidth of the cradle mattress support and to provide a connection withsaid power driven unit vertical motion translating device intermediateits extremities, and support embracing clamp brackets securable to saidbeam element at each of its ends in longitudinally variable relationshipfor thereby adapting said beam element to different widths of cradlemattress supports.

4. In combination with an infants crib or similar article which includeshead and foot board sections, longitudinal beams connecting saidsections together at a lower level, a mattress and support frametherefor, and means for fastening said support frame to said head andfoot board sections at different levels above said lower level, aconversion appliance for imparting a vertical undulating motion to saidmattress of low velocity suitable for lulling infants into quietudewhich comprises a set of suspension spring means each fastened to onecorner of said mattress support frame, a power unit including a motor,speed reducer, and linkage for translating the reduced rotary motionfrom said reducer into vertical reciprocatory motion, a housing forcontaining and guarding said motor, reducer and linkage against injuringinfants with probing curiosity, a support beam including means securingthe same across the central portion of said mattress support frame, asupport beam including means for clamping onto said longitudinal beamsbeneath said first mentioned support beam, said second mentioned supportbeam being for basing said power unit and said first mentioned supportbeam being for receiving the thrusts from said linkage and meanssecuring said linkage to said first mentioned support beam, whereby saidmattress support frame is resiliently rocked up and down.

5. In combination with an infants crib which includes a crib framehaving head and foot sections and longitudinally extending frame membersextending generally transversely of said head and foot sections alongopposite sides of the crib at the lower portion thereof, a crib mattressand support frame therefor, and elevation adjusting support means at thecorners of the crib frame, the improvement comprising individual bracketmeans engageable with said elevation adjusting support means at variouslevels, springs means interconnecting the bracket means and the cornersof said mattress support frame for resiliently supporting the mattressfor vertical resilient rectilinear movement with respect to said bracketmeans, a first beam element extending transversely across the medialportion of said mattress frame, a second beam element extendingtransversely between said longitudinally extending frame members in themedial portion of the crib and below said first beam element, and motormeans carried by said second beam element and including a verticallyreciprocating member extending upwardly from said motor means andconnecting with said first beam element to reciprocate the same up anddown.

6. An infants crib comprising: a crib frame having head and footsections with vertical corner posts at the sides thereof, longitudinallyextending frame members extending generally transversely of said headand foot sections along opposite sides of the crib at the lower portionthereof, a crib mattress, a support frame for the crib mattress, each ofsaid vertical corner posts having vertically spaced elevation adjustingmeans, bracket means associated with each corner post, one of thebracket means and the elevation adjusting means of the corner postshaving projecting means and the other having projection engaging meanswhich engage with the projecting means to support the bracket means atdifferent elevations on the corner posts, means interconnecting thebracket means and the corners of said mattress support frame forresiliently supporting the mattress for vertical rectilinear movementwith respect to said bracket means at said different elevations, motorsupport means carried by said crib frame below said crib mattresssupport frame, and motor means carried by said support means andincluding a vertically reciprocating rod extending upwardly from saidmotor means and coupled to said crib mattress support frame for any of anumber of different elevations thereof to reciprocate the same up anddown.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS652,896 Johnson et al. July 3, 1900 985,380 Thompson Feb. 28, 19112,234,261 Kroll et a1. Mar. 11, 1941 2,668,530 Tackaberry Feb. 9, 19542,884,651 Garey May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 313,753 Great Britain July20, 1929 314,537 Italy Jan. 30, 1934

